All towns welcome to Narcan training session in Scituate

SCITUATE – Spare just 15 minutes Monday and you’ll gain the training and tools needed to save someone’s life.

Scituate FACTS – Families, Adolescents Communities Together against Substances – is teaming up with Manet Community Health to hold opiate overdose prevention training from 7:30 to 8:30 p.m. The training will be held at the Works Progress Administration building at the intersection of Country Way and Gannet Road in North Scituate.

During the training, which is confidential and free, participants will learn how to use Narcan, an overdose-reversing nasal spray. They will also leave with their own Narcan kit from Manet, which has a standing-order prescription for the drug as part of a pilot program with the state Department of Public Health.

“This is targeted to potential bystanders of an overdose, such as people who suffer from addiction, those who have children who suffer, boyfriends, girlfriends or roommates,” Annmarie Galvin, co-chair of Scituate FACTS, said.

The organization held an event with a panel of addiction experts in February at which attendees learned about the risks and warning signs of an overdose. With more than 100 people attending, Galvin said Manet ran out of Narcan.

“This training on Monday is in a smaller venue and it’s not a forum,” Galvin said. “People from all towns are welcome. We don’t collect names or anything, and it’s a discrete setting. We want to get this lifesaving medicine into as many hands as possible.”

In just 15 minutes, Galvin said attendees will learn from Warren Nicoli, a Manet prevention specialist, how to assemble and administer Narcan, as well as some tips.

“He’s totally approachable and matter-of-fact, and talks about real-life circumstances, such as, ‘if your friend is turning blue, this is exactly what you do,’” she said.

Galvin said attendees will also learn the risks associated with overdosing, as well as about the good Samaritan law protecting those who call 911 to report an overdose.

Galvin said those who can’t attend Monday night but want to receive Narcan training can call Manet at 857-939-4108 to schedule an individual appointment and risk assessment.